Can-testing machine



2Sheets Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

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W. B; PAGE.

TESTING MACHINE.

. 10.465,302 Patented Feb.2s,1892.

llllllllll we Nonms wenns co., PHorommm msmvnmu, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

VILLIAM I3. PAGE, OF DIXON, ILLINOIS.

CAN-TESTI NG IVIACH IN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 469,302, dated February23, 1892.

Application filed August 17, 1891. Serial No. 402.896. (No model.)

T0 a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIAM B. PAGE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Dixon, in the county of Lee and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic Testers forTin Cans; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and iigures ofreference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention has Vreference to pneumatic testers for tin cans, and isintended to be employed in the process of manufacturing tin cansdesigned to be hermetically sealed to preserve the content-s thereof,and it is also efficient as a means of testing the hermetical quality ofcans at any time prior to their being iilled.'

My invention consists, irst, in an annular series ofhorizontally-rotating radial tubes provided at their outer ends with acushioned seat in which the open end of the can is placed and having atone point in their rotation communication at their inner ends With theinterior of said vacuum chamber through a small opening in the Wall ofthe latter and at a subsequent point in their rotation with the outsideair. The aforesaid radial tubes successively register with the openinginto the vacuum-chamber directly after the can is placed in its seat inthe outer end of the tube, and such communication has the effect ofinstantly withdrawing the air from the tube and from the interior of thecan and seating the latter upon its cushioned seat by the pressure ofthe outside air. In the onward rotation of the tube it passestheiopening in the vacuumchamber and its inner end tits closely againstthe smooth circular outside of said chamber, and no air can therefore beadmitted Within said tube or can except through a leakage in the canitself. Should there be such leakage, the admission through it of air into the can and tube will soon neutralize the pressure of the outsideatmosphere, and the can will drop from the tube by its own gravity.Should there be no leakage of air into the tube or can through a defectin the latter, the can Will be suspended radially in the outer end ofsaid tube nearlyrits entire revolution, when the inner end of the tubeWill register with the aforesaid opening to the outer atmosphere, andthe inrush of air through the inner end of the tube, neutralizing theoutside atmos' phere, will permit the can to be detached at once by itsown gravity.

Another part of my invention consists in a revolving circular tableextending beyond the outer ends of the aforesaid tubes and provided witha depressed margin having radial partitions on its upper surface andmoving coincidently with said tubes and adapted to support and carrysuch of the cans as are proven defective to a certain opening anddischarge said cans into a prepared chute. A further function of saidpartitions is to hold the cans deposited on said table in a radialposition and to turn them transversely of said chute, so that they mayroll down `the latter and be deposited in a convenient position forhandling. So, also, said partitions are utilized to turn the perfectcans when dropped automatically transversely into the chute prepared fortheir reception, so that they may pass down the latter and be depositedat the end thereof in like convenient relative position.

Another part of my invention is the supporting of the revolvingstructure consisting of the radial tubes and table aforesaid uponfriction rollers and driving the same through the medium of one of saidrollers, so as to secure a uniform and non-pulsating rotation.

Another part of my invention is the supplementary. support of the radialtubes aforesaid by a collar and arms suspended over the center of thevertical vacuum-chamber aforesaid, so as to relieve the strain of theinner ends of said tubes upon the outer wall of said vacuum-chamber toprevent attrition of the inner end of said tubes.

Another part of my invention is the provision of the duplex decliningchutes for the discharge of the perfect and imperfect cans,respectively, and the relation of said chutes to the revolving tableaforesaid, so as to automatically receive the cans in one uniformposition.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated by the accompanyingdrawings,

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which form part of this specification, in Which- Figure l is aperspective plan view of my invention with a portion of the center capremoved to show the relation of the inner ends of the radial pneumatictubes to the central Vacuum-chamber. Fig. 2 is a central verticalsection of Fig. l.' Figs. 3 and 4c are sectional detail views of thewall of the Vacuum-chamber and ot' the collar surrounding it with theends of the tubes secured thereto, and Fig. 5 is an end view of thechute with the can therein.

The same letters refer to the same or similar parts throughout theseveral views.

A is a hollow metallic standard suitably broadened at the base andseated on or attached to the fioor. v

B is a vertical air-tube seated within the hollow of the standard A andsuitably connected through the iloor or otherwise at its lower end to anair-exhausting pump. At its upper end the tube B is expanded into theannular vacuum-chamber B,the latter having the form of the frustum of acone.

C is the supporting-frame of the machine, rigidly seated on and radiallyaround the exterior of the standard A.

D is a rotating shaft suitably journaled at its inner end in thestandard A and at its outer end'in the outlying portion of the frame` C.Outside of the frame C a belt-pulley E is keyed to the shaft D, by whichthrough connection with suitable machinery rotation is imparted to theshaft D.

E is a metallic-collar loosely seated on the exterior of the upper endof the standard A and adapted to be rotated thereon, said standardbeingcylindrical at that point for such purpose. Integral with thecollar E is the horizontal annular plate G, which is supported near itsouter edge at one side upon the friction-wheel F, rigidly keyed to theshaft D, and by which said plate G is rotated. Plate G is sustained inequipoise by resting at its opposite side on theidle-pulley F', thelatter being suitably supported from the frameC.

H is an annular table suitably supported by the short standards J .l onthe annular plate G and carried thereby and suitably bracedat` its inneredge or central opening by the metallic ring J The outer edge of-` f thetable l-l is deiected downward, as shown matic can tubes or arms Laforesaid have their inner ends projected horizontally through the wallsof the collar K and in close y contact with the outer Wall of thevacuumchamber B and are substantially supported and are carried by saidcollar K. The rotation of said arms L and said collar K is in- Sured bythe attachment of one or more of them near their outer ends to the tableH by means of short connecting-standards L. An opening 2 is formed at acertain locality through the wall of the vacuum-chamber B at suchaltitude and of such size as to permit the inner end of each tube L atthat point in its rotation to register with said opening 2.

A vertical groove 3 is formed in the outer wall from the groove 3 to theopening 2. In the p 'outer end of each ofthe tubes L is formed theannular verticalv recess or can-seat M sufciently large to receive theopen end of the can to be tested, and in the outer portion of suchrecess is placed the annular piece of rubber 4, which cushions the innerend of the can near its outer edge and precludes-the entrance of theoutside atmosphere into the can-seat M and tube L w-hen the can isplaced on said rubber.

N is a standard seated centrally on the vacuum-chamber B', around whichis placed the coiled spring N. A transverse horizontal plate O issupported centrally upon the standard N by means of a collar O upon theunder surface ofthe plate O, said collar passing down over the upper endof the standardNand resting on the upper end of said spring. Dependingarms- P are attached to the plate O near its outer end, and by suitablevattachment at -their lower ends to the tubes L assist in carryingthelatter. 4

XV is an oil-cup having suitable communicationy with the exterior of thechamber B for lubrication of the outer surface of the latter tofacilitate the passage of the inner ends of thetubes L.

R is a stationary annular frame or wall projected upward from andsupported by the frame C a slight distance outside the periphery-of thetable Hand sufficiently abovethe lperiphery of the latter to retain` onthe declining portion of said table any cans that may casually dropthereon.

S is the chtite for the exit of the imperfect cans and consists of fourparallel rods 5, the two inner ones of which are somewhat lower than thetwo outer ones, and thereby forms a descending trough down which. thecans roll by their own gravity. Tlieouter rods 5 5 have the intervalbetween them TOO l'IO

slightly greater than the length of the can, but not sufficient topermit the can to turn in the chute.

T is a chute or exit for the perfect cans and is constructedsubstantially as the chute S. Both of said chutes have communicationwith the table H at one edge thereof, a portion of the frame R beingremoved to permit such communication.

V' represents the defective cans, and V" the perfect ones.

X is a table for the reception of the cans before testing, at the leftof Which the operator stands.

The operation of my invention is as follows: The operator places a can Vwith the open end inward in a seat M, formed on the outer end of apneumatic tube L in the interval, While the inner end of said tube ispassing from the air-orifice 3 to the vacuum-orifice 2, so timing theoperation that the can will be held in said scat at the instant that theinner end of the tube'L is registered with said suctioninlet 2. Theeffect of this communication with the vacuum-chamber B' is to instantlycause the air in said tube L and can V, seated thereon, to pass intosaid vacuum-chamber, and the suction created thereby holds the can in ahorizontal position with its bottom extended radially from the tube,inwhich position it is carried a greater or less portion of the Way aroundover the table lI, While the inner end of the tubeL is passing aroundthe unbroken exterior of said vacuum-chamber. Should there be no leakagein the can through which outside air can be admitted therein, said canwill remain thus suspended until the tube L,bearing the same, shall havemade nearly an entire revolution and until the iuner end of said tubeshall register with the air-opening 3, when the vacuum in said can andtube will be destroyed by the inrushing air and said can Will drop downagainst the rod 5', forming the partition between the chutes S and T, inwhich position the next succeeding partition l of the carrier H willengage the inner end of the can and, turning said can into the' positionshown in dotted lines in Fig. l of the drawings, or transversely of thechute T, discharge said can therein in said position. This is of greatadvantage, as the cans can subsequently be handled with much greaterfacility and dispatch Where they are delivered parallel with each otherat the end of the chute T. Should any one of the cans after beingseated, as aforesaid, on the end of the tube L and started on itsrevolution be imperfect and leak air,

as soon as sufficient air has passed through such leak into the can thevacuum therein Will be destroyed and said can Will drop by its owngravity to the declining margin H' of the table H, being held in aradial position thereon between the partitions l and with its baseresting against and sliding along the inner surface of the frame R,being propelled by the next succeeding partition 1 until it reaches themouth or inner end of the chute S, when it will be discharged down thelatter in the same manner as described in reference to the discharge ofperfect cans down chute T.

l have had several of my machines in operation, and the operator becomesby practice very expert, so that the table H and tubes L may have acontinuous rotation, and the operator can readily seat the cans on theouter ends of the tubes L as they successively approach thevacuum-opening 2,and a constant stream of perfect and imperfect cans bedischarged down the chutes T and S.

rlhe imperfect cans are all resoldered and submitted to subsequent testin the same machine. This operation is not only rapid and uniform, butits results are reliable, as the can is carried far enough and longenough to determine Whether it will admit air and Whether it'is lit orunfit for hermetical canning.

lVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States,

l. The combination of a vacuum-chamber B', )rovided with the opening 2and the op'ening 3, and a series of horizontal radial pneumatic tubes L,provided with can-seats M at their-,outer extremities and their innerends abutting against the exterior of said chamber B' and havingintermittent communication with said openings 2 and 3, and means,substantialiy as sho\vn,for imparting rotation to said arms,substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

2. The combination of the vacuum-chamber B', provided with openings 2and 3, radial tubes L, provided with can-seats M .at their outer ends,respectively, and seated with their inner ends abutting against theexterior of said vacuum-chamber and adapted to intermittingly registerwith said openings 2 and 3, the table H, provided With declining marginH' and partitions l, seated rigidly thereon, and means, substantially asshown, for imparting rotation te said table and tubes, substantially asshown, and for the purpose described.

3. The combination of the standard A, frame C, affixed thereto, shaft D,suitably journaled on frame C and provided With driving-pulley E,friction drivin g-pulley F, rigidly seated on said shaft,supporting-pulley F, suitably supported on frame C, plate G, carriedupon said pulleys and loosely collared upon standard A, Vacuum-chamberB', provided with openings 2 and 3, vacuum-tube B, table H, supportedupon plate G, and radial tubes L, provided at their outer ends Withcup-seats M and abutting at their inner endsagainst the exterior ofchamber B' and adapted to intermittingly register at the openings 2 and3,re spectively, central post N, plate O, and arms P P, suitablyattached intermediately to tubes L, substantially as shown, and for thepurpose described.

4C. In a can-testing machine, the combination of a suitable supportingrotating table I-I,

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having a declining margin H', provided with.

partitions l, a circular series of radial vacuumtubes L, suitablysupported above said table and provided with can-seats M at their outerends, a central vacuum-chamber B', adapted to have intermittentcommunication with the inner end of the tubes L, a suitable releasingair-inlet for said tubes, retaining-frame R,

seated around the periphery of said table, candischarging chutes S andT, communicating,

respectively, with the periphery of said table,

and means,subsiantiallyas shown, for rotating said table and tubes,substantially as shown,

and for the purpose described.

5. The combination of a centrally-situated vacuum-chamber B', providedwith an opening 2, a horizontal circular table H, seated around andbelow said chamber, an annular series of radial tubes L, adapted attheir o uter ends to receive the tin cans and abutting at p their innerends against the wall of said vacu-V um-chamber and intermittinglyregistering? with said opening 2, an air-duct 3, means, substantially'asshown, for rotating said table and tubes, and means, substantially asshown, for supporting and discharging the perfect and imperfect cans,substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

6. In a pneumatic can-tester, the combination, with ahorizontally-revolving table provided with a series of seats eachadapted to receive the open end of the can to be tested and having amargin projecting from the edge of the table, provided withpartitions,of means for exhausting air from and admitting it to theseats, chutes leading from the outer edge of the margin of the table,and a partition between said chutes, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I atx my signature .hereto in the presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM B. PAGE. Witnesses:

ALBERT R. ASHLEY, WILLIAM MCBRIDE.

